Holidays swing into full force this week

It’s beginning to look and feel like the Christmas season in Fayette and Coweta counties.

In Senoia, the Senoia Area Historical Museum at 6 Couch Street allows visitors to take a journey through the past.

The museum’s newest exhibit, “The Joy of Christmas Pasts,” opened Friday. The exhibit showcases over 50 Christmas cards from the first half of the last century. Come take a nostalgic trip down memory lane into the joys of Christmas past.

Brooks celebrated the sights and sounds of Christmas, beginning with the Tour of Homes Sunday, followed by the Town Tree Lighting, and Santa’s arrival. The evening ended with a “Music Alive” concert in Downtown Brooks.

For those who want to help the less fortunate and also see a Christmas extravaganza, head to the Gaddy family’s decorations at 898 Sandy Creek Rd. Dec. 6.

Join Santa and the Marines in collecting new and unwrapped toys for less fortunate children. An official Toys For Tots drop box will be available at the Gaddy’s for anyone donating a toy.

The event runs from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and each child visiting the light display will receive a small “thank you” gift from Santa and his helpers.

In Fayetteville, Fayetteville Main Street officially marks the beginning of the Main Street Holiday Season with its annual Downtown Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Dec. 7 festivities.

The public is invited to gather downtown for this celebration that includes music, food, and free carriage rides with Santa.

The parade starts at 5 p.m. and will begin at the Justice Center and work its way up and through the downtown square. Alongside the parade route at the Gazebo, the Olde Courthouse Tavern will have food and drinks, and the Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville will have their Kettle Corn stand before, during and after the parade.

Immediately following the parade, the tree lighting program will commence and feature a variety of local performers and groups.

During the program, members of Rolling Hills Baptist Church will serve free hot chocolate, and Gospel Community Church will serve free popcorn. Free ornament making will also be offered on the Gazebo grounds, courtesy of the volunteers at the Holliday-Dorsey-Fife Museum.

Also during the entertainment at the tree, children of all ages can get a chance to take a free ride with Santa in his very own horse-drawn carriage. Rides will begin shortly after the parade from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This year’s honored guests performing the “lighting” of the tree will be 4-year-old twins Zoe and Carter Collins, students from the Joseph Sams School. The Joseph Sams School, staff and children will also perform during the tree lighting program.

For more information on this and other Main Street events, call 770-719-4173 or visit Fayetteville-GA.gov/Events.